ench allies, deserting the fort, fought their way to their boats,
and, embarking, fled to their ships, leaving us to our fate. Two only
with myself escaped by leaping over the walls, and swimming to a canoe
floating by. Both of my companions were wounded. As we were paddling
on, as fast as our strength would allow, we caught sight of a canoe with
two Portuguese boats in pursuit. We were unobserved, but we had too
much reason to fear that the canoe was overtaken. Just as we reached
the shore, the paddles dropped from the hands of my two companions, and
they sank down from loss of blood. When I called to them, they gave no
answer. They were both dead. I waited in vain for the arrival of our
friends, but none appeared, and I at length came on to bring the sad
tidings."

As the wounded warrior finished his narrative, loud wailings rose from
the women in the camp. No threats of vengeance were uttered, for they
felt their utter helplessness, and they knew that they themselves might
become the prey of any of their foes who might be induced to attack
them. At length an old man arose in their midst.

"Give not way to despair, my daughters," he exclaimed; "you have still
many sons. We will fly with them to a place of safety, and there teach
them how their brave fathers fought and died with their faces to the
foe. They will grow up, and, hearing of their deeds, will imitate their
valour, and revenge the deaths of their sires."

The words of the aged warrior restored the drooping courage of the poor
women, and they resolved to follow his counsel. A few men, who from
sickness or other causes had not gone forth to battle, and the youths
who had not sufficient strength to draw their mighty bows, vowed to
defend them and the chief's daughter to the last gasp. Cora deputed the
old warrior to take the lead, and, as they believed the Tuparas, flushed
with victory, would ere long pursue them, they immediately set out on
their sad journey to the north.

Surrounding Nigel and Constance, they vowed fidelity, promising to obey
the last behests of their beloved young chief Tecumah, and to afford
them all the support in their power. A small band only of the bravest
and most active remained behind to collect any stragglers who might
arrive, and to cover the retreat of the main body. Nigel, communicating
with the old chief, found that he proposed proceeding northward to a
region bordering the sea, inhabited by a scanty tribe, wi